Another boring background, but, it's just for the story, so....ah well.

O’Hare Airport

He stepped off the plane, into the dimly lit terminal, and stopped, just ten feet in the door, slowly tensing and releasing the muscle in his wrist, that in less than a second, could bring forth his two pistols. He glanced about the room quickly, and took a seat in one of the seats for those awaiting arrivals. A small man, about five foot six or so, came strolling into the terminal, and walked right up to the sitting man. "Ahh, good evening sir, I assume you are the one here to meet Mr. Sinuk?"

"Yes, I am, please take me to him now." He said in his subtly commanding voice

"Ah, of course sir, come this way." He stated, picking up the man’s suitcase and walking towards one of the exits

He stood up, took one final look around the terminal, and followed the man out. Outside, the man had already placed his suitcase in the sleek, black car awaiting them, and had the door open, awaiting his entrance. He climbed in, shut the door, and immediately the car sped off down the road. "Well, now that we have some time to ourselves, sir, would you care to at least give me your name?" He asked inquisitively

"My name, is Orin, kind sir, and you’ll do well to remember it. Your employer evidently doesn’t tell you much, or you would’ve already known that, but it’s just as well, the less who know, the better off we’ll all be. You do understand, correct?"

"Oh, oh, of course, Orin, I, as you said don’t get informed of much, I’m simply an errand boy for Mr. Sinuk, I mostly retrieve the people who are to meet with him, and occasionally pick up "goods" for him."

"Well, that’s very interesting, young man. Let me ask you, does your employer have any problem with me bringing weapons into the compound?"

"Normally, yes, he has a strict policy against guests arriving armed, but I was told to inform you that you could do as you wished, on account of your great importance."

"Excellent, it is good to know that my reputation precedes me here."

The car took a final turn down a dimly lit street, and pulled into the alley. "Here we are, Mr. Orin, you may take your case, and simply buzz in right over there" He said, pointing to a door with an intercom right next to it.

"Excellent, thank you for your hospitality young man, I’ll be sure to mention your excellent work to your employer" Orin stated, as he stood up outside the car, grabbed his case, and walked away.

He walked over towards the door, and pressed the intercom button, he paused for a moment, waiting, before a voice came through on the intercom: "Orin, welcome to my humble abode, you may open the door, it has been unlocked, and head directly up the stairs, I will be waiting in my office."

Orin gently pushed open the door; slowly scanning the room beyond as it came into view, and finally stepped inside. The interior of the building was vastly more impressive than its drab outer walls, but that was typical of anyone attempting to hide their wealth in a big city. The walls were each lit with a soft electric lantern light, and the floor carpeted in a smooth red carpet, which made for a very calm atmosphere. He saw the stairs spiraling upward into the ceiling, and headed towards them.

Stepping onto the second floor, Orin saw a completely different setup from the room below him. This floor seemed more like a prison than an office, but that was understandable, tough walls, high security, and armed guards were typical of the people he worked with, and he used to it. He stepped toward the door to the office, which he couldn’t even see the inside of from here, on account of there being no windows, and opened it, fully prepared for tonight’s little meeting.

"Ah, Orin, welcome, thank you for arriving on such short notice, I realize you are a very busy man as of late. Please, take a seat, so that we might discuss why it is you’ve been called here." A small, middle-eastern looking man sitting at a desk placed squarely in the center of the room said.

"Good evening, Mr. Sinuk," Orin said, as he sat down in the rather comfortable leather chairs, "Please, tell me what it is that you need."

"Well, Orin, as you well know, ever since joining the LoneStar, there are a great many things we need done, that are, off the beaten path, so to speak. We occasionally require the services of ones such as yourself to "deal" with problems that a large squad of our normal men wouldn’t handle well."

"I’m quite aware of that, Mr. Sinuk, but my time is money, so please, get to the point, so that I may consider your offer." Orin said, sounding a bit on edge

"Sorry, I don’t wish to drag this out any more than is required, it’s just that I don’t know quite how to put my request. You see, the LoneStar long ago granted me "free reign" over this city, so to speak, in order to keep things in order. For all intensive purposes, I know everything that goes on this city, normally. That’s what is bothering me, lately, there have been a large number of men in this city planning something big, and I’m not sure what it is. I have become sadly aware though, of a much larger problem. You know of shamans, the mages who rely on animal totems for their magical power, right?"

"Yes, I’ve dealt with them before, why?"

"Well, we seem to have encountered a new type of shaman, bug shamans. They work on the same principle as the other shamans, with one exception; the bug totems are not simple powers, with no overpowering interest in our world. They are, well, bent on bring themselves into our world, on a large scale. These shamans go about collecting hosts for the bug spirits, and eventually, if they can, bring a queen into the world. Now, I feel sure, as you are a well-educated man, that you remember basic biology. These creatures have the same goals and aspirations as their smaller counterparts, except on a much grander scale. Where a normal wasp colony is working towards building their hive to great size, and manages maybe a two or three foot nest, these creatures, having taken human bodies, are monstrously larger, and building nests on world-threatening scale."

"This sounds pretty bad, but what the hell does it have to do with me?"

"Just wait, it gets better. They’ve been discovered underneath Chicago, right under us, these things are breeding, and growing stronger by the day. We have no idea how many there may be, we estimate in the thousands, and they have yet to emerge into the light, and alert the public. Until then, we’re keeping this under wraps. Now, the men I mentioned being in the city, without my knowledge of their activities, are somehow related to this. I fear something very bad is going to happen soon, and we don’t know enough to do a damn thing about it. That’s why I’ve called you, Orin, I want you to go out into the city, and find out as much as you can about these men. The only thing I can supply you with is this; they’re somehow connected with Ares. Do this for us, Orin, and you will be paid 100,000 nuyen."

"Hmm…this sounds pretty far-fetched, but I’ll do it. Will I be working on my own, as per usual, or will you be sending someone along with me?"

"I’m glad you asked, yes, for something this important, I am sending along a good friend of mine. He moved here recently, and I scooped him up almost immediately, as he showed amazing potential in our line of work. He specializes in various mental controlling magic, but isn’t much of a fighter, so you may have to watch out for him if things go bad."

"Hmm…sounds interesting, when do I meet this fellow?"

"Actually, I took the liberty of having him meet you here, he should be on his way up now"

A few seconds later, a man outfitted in a strange combination of a decorated robe, and an armor-plated coat strolled in. "Good evening, Sinuk. I take it this is the man, Orin, whom you mentioned on the phone?"

"Yes, I am Orin," He chimed in "and who might you be? Sinuk has not yet taken the time to tell me your name."

"Me? My name is Arik, and I volunteered my services to Sinuk here after he explained about the bug problem we’re having, I’m sure it’ll be a pleasure to be working with you"

"Likewise, Arik, let us take a bit to relax before all this starts, though, I believe I know a very good bar in town"

"Good thinking, Orin, good thinking." Arik said, as he motioned, and he and Orin departed

"Good evening to both of you gentlemen, good luck!" Sinuk shouted as they left

Sinuk picked up his phone after they both had left, and called someone…

"Yes, yes, all is set, they bought it."

"Yes, tomorr